Cut resistant package band

ABSTRACT

A package for enclosing a product includes front and back cards and a cut resistant band or cap anchored between the cards. The cut resistant band or cap prevents lifting the product away from the cards or sliding the product out of the package.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)of U.S. provisional applications Ser. No. 61/707,194 filed on Sep. 28,2012 and Ser. No. 61/827,277 filed on May 24, 2013, both of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their respective entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present application is directed to packages and, more particularly,to a cut-resistant band for use in packages.

Manufacturers and retailers of consumer goods, such as pharmaceuticals,software, electronics, health and beauty products and the like,typically package their products in tamper resistant security packages.For example, many consumer goods are packaged in blister or clamshellpackages formed by positioning a consumer good in a flanged blister madefrom various polymeric and/or paperboard materials and sealing theflanged blister between two paperboard substrates. Consumers have voiceddisapproval of such packages because of the difficulty of opening thesame and the potential for being cut on a rough edge especially ofplastic blisters. Also, the use materials such as plastic blisters madefrom non-renewable resources is viewed unfavorably by some consumers.Packaging made primarily of paperboard is more sustainable thanpackaging made from petroleum-based plastics. Packages may therefore bemade based largely on paperboard, for example, NATRALOCK packages. Thepaperboard used in such packages may be tear-resistant.

Despite such drawbacks as described above, transparent blisters areoften used to enclose a product because they provide a good view of theproduct, protect it from damage, and keep it clean. These transparentblisters are usually made of relatively thin material that may be cutfairly easily with a knife, razor, or scissors. Thus a thief can cutinto the blister and remove its contents. Accordingly, there is a needfor a package with additional protection of the product against beingremoved from the package if the blister is breached.

The present invention also seeks to provide an improvement in the fieldof packaging, more specifically, in the field of packages includingblisters enclosing the product by providing a cut-resistant band or capof material to prevent product removal even if the blister is cut.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a packaging structure is disclosed which comprises afront panel and back panel, and a cut resistant band anchored betweenthe panels. The cut resistant band may prevent lifting the product awayfrom the panels or sliding the product out of the package.

In some aspects, the packaging structure may include a blister enclosingthe product. In some aspects, the panels may be made of a tear resistantmaterial. In some aspects, the panels may be made of a heat-sealablematerial.

Within the scope of this application it is envisaged that the variousaspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternatives set out in thepreceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following descriptionand drawings may be taken independently or in any combination thereof.For example, features described in connection with one embodiment areapplicable to all embodiments unless there is incompatibility offeatures.

Other aspects of the disclosed packaging structures will become apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of parts of a packaging structureincluding a retaining band and blister, before assembly;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective and cross section views of the packagingstructure of FIG. 1 after assembly, enclosing a product item;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of parts of another packaging structureincluding a retaining band and a blister, before assembly;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective and cross section views of the packagingstructure of FIG. 4 after assembly, enclosing a product item;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of parts of another packaging structureincluding a retaining band and without blister, before assembly;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of an alternative retaining band;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective and cross section views of the packagingstructure of FIG. 3 after assembly, enclosing a product item;

FIG. 7A is a cross section view of another packaging structure includingtwo retaining bands and a blister, enclosing a product item;

FIG. 7B is a cross section view another packaging structure including aretaining band, cap, and blister, enclosing a product item;

FIG. 7C is a cross section view of another packaging structure includingtwo retaining caps and a blister, enclosing a product item.

FIG. 8A is a cross section view of another packaging structure includingtwo retaining bands and without a blister, enclosing a product item;

FIG. 8B is a cross section view another packaging structure including aretaining band, cap, and without a blister, enclosing a product item;

FIG. 8C is a cross section view of another packaging structure includingtwo retaining caps and without a blister, enclosing a product item;

FIGS. 9A-9F show alternative forms of anchors for retaining bands orcaps;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of parts of another packaging structureincluding a retaining band and blister, before assembly;

FIGS. 11-13 are perspective views of the packaging structure of FIG. 10during assembly to enclose a product item;

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the packaging structure of FIGS.10-14, nearly completed; and

FIG. 14B is a perspective back view of the packaging structure of FIGS.10-13 after assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This packages disclosed herein provide anti-theft features through theuse of bands or caps that are anchored between two cards making up thepackages.

For ease of description, planar structures used in the packages aretermed ‘cards’ and may be made with sheet materials, including but notlimited to paperboard cards. The term ‘card’ is meant only to facilitatedescription of the package, and not to limit in any way.

As various embodiments of a package are described, reference will bemade to FIGS. 1-14. Certain parts of the packages are denoted byreference numerals. Where there is more than one of the same element,generally only one will be denoted by a reference numeral. If differentpackages have a common element or feature, it may only be described onetime. Similar elements may be numbered similarly, sometimes differing inthe ‘100s’ digit, for example retainer 30 and retainer 130.

Where assembly steps are described, these steps are exemplary and arenot to be limiting as to the sequence of operations used to arrive atthe final package. Also, directions such as up, down, top, bottom,front, back, etc. are used for convenience in describing the package andare not meant to be limiting. The packages described here may be madefrom one or several blanks (that is, the cut sheet parts from which thepackage components are made by folding and other steps).

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the parts of a package 1. The packagemay have a front card 10 and a back card 20. The cards may be made froma sheet substrate such as paper or paperboard or other sheet material.The substrate may be made of or coated with materials to increase itsstrength. An example of such a sheet material is NATRALOCK paperboardmade by MeadWestvaco Corporation. The sheet material may have a heatsealable coating, for example to allow a heat seal to be created betweenthe cards. Alternately, other forms of adhesive may be used to sealthese portions together. It should be noted that the use of tearresistant materials, and/or in more than one layer, help to improve thetamper- and theft-resistance of the package. For example such a coatingor treatment may be on the surface of the cards that will face eachother on the interior of the package. Alternately this inside surfacemay be left untreated, which might provide a better sealing surface thansome coated surfaces, for example those with coatings optimized forprinting, or glossy coatings.

The cards may be coated on one surface, for example the surface thatwill become the outside of the package, with a coating suited forprinting graphics.

The cards may have hang holes 16, 26 for placing on a display hook. Anaperture or apertures 14 may be provided on front card 10, through whichstrap portion 34 of a retainer 30 may extend, while anchor or flangeportion 34 does not fit through aperture 14, but instead remains trappedbetween front card 10 and back card 20. As seen in FIG. 1, the lowercenter area of retainer 30 may be open in order to more easily load aproduct item into the package. In addition to front card 10, back card20, and retainer 30, the package may include blister 40 with a body 42(for containing a product) and a flange 44.

An aperture or apertures 14 may be provided on front card 10, throughwhich strap portion 34 of retainer 30 may extend, while anchor or flangeportion 34 does not fit through aperture 14, but instead remains trappedbetween front card 10 and back card 20. An aperture or apertures 12 maybe provided through which will fit the blister body portion 42, whilethe blister flange 44 does not fit through aperture 12 but insteadremains between front card 10 and back card 20. The apertures 12, 14 maybe contiguous. As seen in FIG. 1, the lower center area of retainer 30may be open in order to more easily receive the product item and/orblister.

The blister body portion 42 may be shaped to fit over the product item50 and the retainer 30. A back plate 37 may be provided behind theproduct and aligned with the retainer flange 34 to discourage cuttingthrough back panel 20 to gain access to product item 50.

The retainer 30 and back plate 37 may be made of any relatively toughmaterial, for example a plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene.The retainer may be fabricated by injection molding, or by other knownshaping processes, such as extrusion. The back plate may be fabricatedby extrusion, or by other known shaping processes.

The blister body portion 42 may be shaped to fit the product item 50.The product item 50 may have a narrowed portion 52 as more clearly shownin FIG. 2A which shows the assembled package 1. The retainer 30 mayadvantageously wrap around narrowed portion 52.

In FIG. 2A, the front card 10 has been sealed together with the backcard 20 to create a two-ply package. The cards may be sealed together byan adhesive such as a heat-sealable coating on the facing surfaces ofthe cards. As best show in the cross section view of FIG. 2B, the flangeportion 34 of the retainer 30 is trapped between the front card 10 andback card 20, as is the blister flange 44. The strap portion 32 ofretainer 30 may encircle product item 50, particularly at a narrowedsection 52 of the product item 50, which fits inside strap portion 32,while the ends 54, 56 of the product item 50 do not fit inside strapportion 32. Thus the product item 50 may be prevented from being lifted‘up’ away from the cards 10, 20 and also prevent the product from movingvery far parallel to the cards (which might otherwise free the product50 from the package).

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show a package with blister 40 inside retainer30, it should be understood that retainer 30 could instead be locatedoutside blister 40, as will be described below and illustrated in FIGS.3-4. Alternately the blister may be omitted as described further belowand illustrated in FIGS. 5-6.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the parts of another package 2, wherethe retainer 30 is located outside the blister 40. An aperture orapertures 14 may be provided on front card 10, through which strapportion 34 of a retainer 30 may extend, while anchor or flange portion34 does not fit through aperture 14, but instead remains trapped betweenfront card 10 and back card 20. As seen in FIG. 3, the lower center areaof retainer 30 may be open in order to more easily load a product iteminto the package. In addition to front card 10, back card 20, andretainer 30, the package may include blister 40 with a body 42 (forcontaining a product) and a flange 44.

An aperture or apertures 14 may be provided on front card 10, throughwhich strap portion 34 of retainer 30 may extend, while anchor or flangeportion 34 does not fit through aperture 14, but instead remains trappedbetween front card 10 and back card 20. An aperture or apertures 12 maybe provided through which will fit the blister body portion 42, whilethe blister flange 44 does not fit through aperture 12 but insteadremains between front card 10 and back card 20. The apertures 12, 14 maybe contiguous. As seen in FIG. 3, the lower center area of retainer 30may be open in order to more easily receive the product item and/orblister.

The blister body portion 42 may be shaped to fit over the product item50 and under or within the retainer 30. A back plate 37 may be providedbehind the product and aligned with the retainer flange 34 to discouragecutting through back panel 20 to gain access to product item 50.

The blister body portion 42 may be shaped to fit the product item 50.Furthermore the blister body portion 42 may include a narrowed portion46 over which may fit retainer strap portion 32, securing the blistermore firmly, and most importantly securing the product item 50, whichmay also have a narrowed portion 52 as described previously and moreclearly shown in FIG. 4B which shows the assembled package 2.

In FIG. 4A, the front card 10 has been sealed together with the backcard 20 to create a two-ply package. The cards may be sealed together byan adhesive such as a heat-sealable coating on the facing surfaces ofthe cards. As best show in the cross section view of FIG. 4B, the flangeportion 34 of the retainer 30 is trapped between the front card 10 andback card 20, as is the blister flange 44. The strap portion 32 ofretainer 30 may encircle the blister at blister narrowed portion 46, andalso encircle product item 50, particularly at a narrowed section 52 ofthe product item 50, which fits inside strap portion 32, while the ends54, 56 of the product item 50 do not fit inside strap portion 32. Thusthe product item 50 may be prevented from being lifted ‘up’ away fromthe cards 10, 20 and also prevent the product from moving very farparallel to the cards (which might otherwise free the product 50 fromthe package).

FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of the parts of another package 4,which does not utilize a blister. The package may have a front card 10and a back card 20. An aperture or apertures 14 may be provided on frontcard 10, through which strap portion 34 of a retainer 30 may extend,while anchor or flange portion 34 does not fit through aperture 14, butinstead remains trapped between front card 10 and back card 20. As seenin FIG. 5A, the lower center area of retainer 30 may be open in order tomore easily load a product item into the package. A back plate 37 may beprovided behind the product and aligned with the retainer flange 34 todiscourage cutting through back panel 20 to gain access to product item50.

The retainer 30 and back plate 37 may be made of any relatively toughmaterial, for example a plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene.The product item 50 may have a narrowed portion 52 as more clearly shownin FIG. 6A which shows the assembled package 3. The retainer 30 mayadvantageously wrap around narrowed portion 52.

In FIG. 6A, the front card 10 has been sealed together with the backcard 20 to create a two-ply package. The cards may be sealed together byan adhesive such as a heat-sealable coating on the facing surfaces ofthe cards. As best show in the cross section view of FIG. 2B, the flangeportion 34 of the retainer 30 is trapped between the front card 10 andback card 20. The strap portion 32 of retainer 30 may encircle productitem 50, particularly at a narrowed section 52 of the product item 50,which fits inside strap portion 32, while the ends 54, 56 of the productitem 50 do not fit inside strap portion 32. Thus the product item 50 maybe prevented from being lifted ‘up’ away from the cards 10, 20 and alsoprevent the product from moving very far parallel to the cards (whichmight otherwise free the product 50 from the package.

As seen in FIG. 5A, the lower center area of retainer 30 may be open inorder to more easily receive the product item and/or blister. FIG. 5Bshows an alternative retainer 30A, whose lower center is closed. Thismay be used in certain cases for example with a two-part product with anarrower center section, where the two parts may be joined together bypassing them through the retainer 30′. Alternately the lower part of theretainer may have a hinge action as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 6A shows the assembled package 3, with the front card 10 sealedtogether with the back card 20 to create a two-ply package. The cardsmay be sealed together by an adhesive such as a heat-sealable coating onthe facing surfaces of the cards. As best shown in the cross sectionview of FIG. 2B, the flange portion 34 of the retainer 30 is trappedbetween the front card 10 and back card 20. The retainer 30 may hold aproduct item 50. The strap portion 32 of retainer 30 may encircleproduct item 50, particularly at a narrowed section 52 of the productitem 50, which fits inside strap portion 32, while the ends 54, 56 ofthe product item 50 do not fit inside strap portion 32. Thus the productitem 50 may be prevented from being lifted ‘up’ away from the cards 10,20 and also prevent the product from moving very far parallel to thecards (which might otherwise free the product 50 from the package).

FIGS. 7A-7C shows cross sections of packages, some of which are similarto the packages shown in FIGS. 1-6. FIGS. 7A-7C include a blister 40located outside the retainer or retainers.

FIG. 7A shows a package which uses two retainers 30. Such a packagemight be advantageous where the product item 50 has a wider portion 52and one or more narrower portions 54, 56. The retainers prevent productitem 50 from being lifted ‘up’ away from the cards 10, 20 and alsoprevent the product from moving very far parallel to the cards. As shownin FIG. 7A, product item 50 cannot slide to the left because the widerportion 52 is restrained by the first retainer, and cannot slide to theright because it is restrained by the second retainer.

FIG. 7B shows a package which uses a retainer 30 in the form of a bandas previously described, and also a retainer 31 in the form of a ‘cap’.Band portion 32 prevents lifting the product item 50 away from thepackage, as already described, and may prevent or limit sliding of theproduct parallel to the package, depending on the shape of the productproximate to the band portion 32. Retainer 31 in comparison forms asocket portion 36 which may prevent lifting the product away from thepackage, but also prevent the product from sliding parallel to thepackage, at least in one direction. Such a package might be advantageouswhere the product item 50 has a wider portion 52 and one or morenarrower portions 54, 56. The retainers prevent product item 50 frombeing lifted ‘up’ away from the cards 10, 20 and also prevent theproduct from moving very far parallel to the cards. As shown in FIG. 7B,product item 50 cannot slide to the left because the wider portion 52 isrestrained by the retainer 30 in the form of a band, and cannot slide tothe right because the product (regardless of its width) is restrained byretainer 31 in the form of a cap.

FIG. 7C shows a package which uses two retainers 31 in the form of‘caps’. Retainers 31 have socket portions 36 which may prevent liftingthe product away from the package, but also prevent the product fromsliding parallel to the package, at least in one direction. Such apackage might be advantageous where the product item 50 has a regularcross section from the ends 54, 56 and the center 52. The retainers 31prevent product item 50 from being lifted ‘up’ away from the cards 10,20 and also prevent the product from moving very far parallel to thecards. As shown in FIG. 7C, product item 50 cannot slide to the leftbecause its end 54 is restrained by the first retainer 31, and cannotslide to the right because it is restrained by the second retainer 31.

FIGS. 8A-8C shows cross sections of packages similar to the packagesshown in FIGS. 7A-7C respectively, except that no blister is used.

FIG. 8A shows a package which uses two retainers 30. Product item 50cannot slide to the left because the wider portion 52 is restrained bythe first retainer, and cannot slide to the right because it isrestrained by the second retainer.

FIG. 8B shows a package which uses a retainer 30 in the form of a bandas previously described, and also a retainer 31 in the form of a ‘cap’.Product item 50 cannot slide to the left because the wider portion 52 isrestrained by the retainer 30 in the form of a band, and cannot slide tothe right because the product (regardless of its width) is restrained byretainer 31 in the form of a cap.

FIG. 8C shows a package which uses two retainers 31 in the form of‘caps’. Product item 50 cannot slide to the left because its end 54 isrestrained by the first retainer 31, and cannot slide to the rightbecause it is restrained by the second retainer 31.

FIGS. 9A-9F show alternative forms of retainer where the anchor orflange portion 32 and backing plate 37 are made either separately or(for example in FIG. 9A) or joined together (FIGS. 9B-9F).

FIG. 9A shows the retainer 30 already described with regard to severalpackages. The lower center of the band (e.g. of flange 32) is open. Thismay allow easier loading of the product into the package. A separatebacking plate 37 may be provided.

FIG. 9B shows the retainer 30A introduced in FIG. 5B, which has a closedband. With this structure a separate backing plate 37 may not be needed.

FIG. 9C shows a retainer 30B incorporating a backing plate 37′ hingedlyattached to the flange 32, for example at one side thereof by way of aliving hinge. After loading the product, the backing plate 37′ may beclosed over the bottom of the retainer as shown in FIG. 9D to provideprotection all around the product.

FIG. 9E shows another variation as retainer 30C incorporating a backingplate 37″ in two sections each hingedly attached to a different side offlange 32, for example by living hinges. After loading the product, thebacking plates 37″ may be closed over the bottom of the retainer asshown in FIG. 9F to provide protection all around the product.

The examples shown herein have utilized a blister 40 in some cases.Usually the blister 40 is smaller than front card 10 and back card 20.In some cases a blister was not used. Another form of package for whichthe retaining band 30 may be utilized is the so-call “clamshell”package, where the outermost part is typically an essentially closedshell of a tough plastic. However, even with these “clamshells” it ispossible to cut the shell with a sharp tool. Often the product isalready mounted on some sort of paperboard card inside the clamshell,since such cards provide a surface for graphics that are not readilyprinted onto the clamshell itself For more product security, it may bemounted on the card structure and held by the retainer 30 in a mannersimilar to that shown in FIGS. 5-6. Since the clamshell itself providesa durable transparent covering, a blister 40 may not be needed in such apackage.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the parts of another package 4. Thepackage may have a front card 10 and a back card 20 as previouslydescribed, which are shown here with their inside surfaces facing up.The cards may be hingedly attached together along fold line 15. Thecards may have hang holes 16, 26 for placing on a display hook. Ablister 140 may be included. An aperture 12 may be provided in frontcard 10 to receive the cavity or body 142 of blister 140, while blisterflange 144 will be positioned between the front card 10 and back card20. One or more aperture extensions 14 may be provided on front card 10,through which strap receiving section 143 of blister 140 may fit.Aperture extension 14 may be a lateral extension of aperture 12. Package4 may include a retainer in the form of a cable tie 130 to help secure aproduct item 50.

The blister body portion 142 may be shaped to fit over the product item50 and the retainer 130. A backing panel 160 may be hingedly or foldablyattached to blister 140. The backing panel 160 may have openings 162,164, 166 formed therein whose purposes will be explained in thefollowing Figures.

The retainer 130 may be made of any relatively tough material, forexample a plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The retainermay be a cable tie or similar device having a strap portion 132 withfeature such as steps or teeth to engage a retainer finger withinratchet head 138 by a ratcheting or other type of securing action. Theretainer may be fabricated by injection molding, or by other knownshaping processes. The ratchet head 138 may incorporate a releasemechanism to allow the tie to be easily opened, and even reclosed, oncethe package is opened.

In FIG. 11, content item 50 is shown having been moved into proximitywith backing panel 160. The strap 132 of retainer 130 has been threadedthrough backing panel openings 164, 166 and then through ratchet head138, to form a closed loop to receive product item 50. As shown in FIG.12, once product item 50 is within the loop, the loop may be tightenedto secure product item 50. The leftover portion of strap 132 may bethreaded back through openings 166, 164, or the leftover portion may becut away.

In FIG. 13, blister 160 is placed upon the inner surface of front card10 with the blister body 142 received into aperture 12 in front card 10and blister flange 144 resting on the inner surface of front card 10.Next, backing panel 160 is folded over to cover and close the other halfof blister 140 (or, if backing panel 160 is provided as a separatepiece, it is now laid upon the other half of blister 140.)

FIG. 14A shows backing panel 160 in position upon the rest of blister140. Tab 149 which extends from the forward part of blister 140 may bedrawn through hole 162 in backing panel 160, to hold the blister halvestogether (particularly if they are hingedly joined by fold line 161).The back of the blister 140 is now relatively flat, except for theportions of strap 132 which are wrapped back through holes 164, 166 inbacking panel 160. A typical cable tie used for strap 132 may have atendency to curve upward out of the plane of the backing panel 160. Thestrap 132 may be preformed (e.g. with slight bends), or may be reshapedfor example by application of heat and/or pressure during the sealingstep between FIGS. 14A and 14B), to provide a flatter portion of thestrap 132 between the backing panel 160 and back card 20.

FIG. 14B shows a finished package, from the back, after the back card 20has been folded along fold line 15 and onto front card 10. The front andback cards 10, 20 may now be sealed together (and optionally to backingpanel 160 and blister flange 144 which lie between the cards. The cardsmay be sealed together by an adhesive such as a heat-sealable coating onthe facing surfaces of the cards. Depending on the thickness of thebacking panel 160 and blister flange 144, there may be a slightthickness change of the package along the perimeter of the backing panel160 and blister flange 144. One or both of front card 10 and back card20 may be prescored to help accommodate such a thickness change.

It will be recognized that as used herein, directional references suchas “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”,“upper” and “lower” do not limit the respective panels to suchorientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from oneanother. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed asnecessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed it is envisagedthat hinged connection can be formed from one or more of the following,a short slit, a frangible line or a fold line without departing from thescope of the invention.

Sealing of the packages may be done by heat sealing, gluing, acombination of heat sealing and gluing, or other method. Heat sealingmay be accomplished by use of both heat and pressure. If a heat sealablecoating is used, hot melt glue may be applied to activate the heat sealcoating and/or to help with sealing. It is to be understood thatalternate sealing methods may be utilized depending upon manufacturingpreferences.

Certain of the packages disclosed herein have been described as beingmade from a separate front and back card. However, it should beunderstood that the front and back cards may be hingedly joined togetheralong their edges and thus provided as a single piece of material.Others of the packages disclosed herein have been described as beingmade from a unitary front and back card. However, it should beunderstood that the front and back cards may be provided separately.

1. A packaging structure, comprising: a front card having an aperturetherein; a back card adhesively sealed to the front card; and at leastone cut-resistant element with a retaining portion extending forwardthrough the aperture and an anchor portion located between the frontcard and the back card.
 2. The packaging structure of claim 1, whereinthe at least one cut-resistant element is a band.
 3. The packagingstructure of claim 1, wherein the at least one cut-resistant element isa socket or cap.
 4. The packaging structure of claim 1, comprising twocut-resistant elements.
 5. The packaging structure of claim 4, whereinthe cut-resistant elements include two bands.
 6. The packaging structureof claim 4, wherein the cut-resistant elements include two sockets orcaps.
 7. The packaging structure of claim 4, wherein the cut-resistantelements include a band and a socket or cap.
 8. The packaging structureof claim 1, wherein at least one of the front and back cards comprises atear-resistant material.
 9. The packaging structure of claim 1, whereinat least one of the front and back cards comprises a heat-sealablecoating.
 10. The packaging structure of claim 1, further comprising ablister located between the cut-resistant band and the front card. 11.The packaging structure of claim 1, further comprising a backing platelocated between the anchor portion and the back card.
 12. The packagingstructure of claim 1, further comprising a backing plate hingedlyattached to the anchor portion
 13. The packaging structure of claim 12,wherein the backing plate may be pivoted upon the hinged attachment soas to come into facing relationship with the anchor portion.
 14. Thepackaging structure of claim 1, wherein the cut-resistant element is acable tie.
 15. A packaging structure, comprising: a front card having anblister-receiving aperture therein; a back card adhesively sealed to thefront card; a blister comprising a blister cavity with a peripheralflange, the blister cavity received in the blister-receiving aperture; abacking card with a first and second band-receiving apertures; and a cutresistant band formed into a loop positioned in the cavity and extendingthrough both band-receiving apertures.
 16. The packaging structure ofclaim 15, wherein the cut-resistant element is a cable tie.
 17. Thepackaging structure of claim 15, wherein at least one of the front andback cards comprises a tear-resistant material.
 18. The packagingstructure of claim 15, wherein at least one of the front and back cardscomprises a heat-sealable coating.